Short Wave Working With Tribes To Co-Steward National Parks
Sep 22, 2022
Charles Sams, the first Tribal citizen to head the National Park Service, discusses his mission to enhance collaboration with Indigenous peoples in managing national parks. He emphasizes the importance of integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge into modern practices. Sams shares how federal guidance promotes tribal co-stewardship, showcasing successful partnerships at parks like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. He reflects on his roots in the Cayuse and Walla Walla tribes, highlighting the personal significance of public lands and the urgent need for inclusive narratives in conservation.
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Chuck Sams' Childhood Experience with National Parks
- Chuck Sams grew up near Whitman Mission National Park, where the story was initially told from a non-tribal perspective.
- The Park Service later collaborated with the Umatilla tribe to incorporate both sides of the story.
Examples of Co-Stewardship
- In Acadia National Park, the Wabanaki people teach the Park Service about sweetgrass harvesting and replanting.
- Yosemite uses traditional ecological knowledge for firefighting and prescribed burns, particularly in redwood forests.
The Value of Traditional Ecological Knowledge
- Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is valuable because it represents thousands of years of observation by Indigenous peoples.
- Combining TEK with Western science allows for a more holistic understanding of the environment.